ISO Releases
ISO14001 and ISO14004 Revision 2004
by Capaccio Environmental Engineering, Inc.
ISO 14001:2004 &
ISO14004:2004 revisions were released for publication on November 15,
2004, bringing a great improvement from the 1996 version, with ease of
understanding, clearer requirement intent, an emphasis on compliance, and
compatibility with ISO 9000:2000. ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) and the IAF (International Accreditation Forum) have
agreed to jointly develop the transition plan and have announced the
period of making the transition from certificates of conformity to the
ISO14001:2004 version to 18 months from the revision publication date.
Beyond this period, the IAF will recognize only certificates to ISO
14001:2004. The ISO and IAF transition policies, with the technical
details, are under review for publication and are expected to be finalized
at the beginning of December 2004.
ISO 14001:2004, What Changed?
The
ISO 14001:2004 revision includes clarification of the requirements,
alignment with ISO 9000:2000, more emphasis on certain requirements and the
folding in of additional requirements. The alignment with ISO
9000:2000 allows companies that are interested in combining an
Environmental Management System (EMS) and Quality Management System (QMS), an ease of transition to the revision. The
combining of the management systems can be a natural progression for
companies with joint organizational resources.
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ISO14001:2004 |
Overview of Change |
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4.1 General Requirements
4.3.1 Environmental Aspects |
Rearticulated for clearer
meaning, with enhanced terminology. |
|
4.2 Environmental Policy
4.4.6 Operational Control
4.4.7 Emergency Preparedness And Response |
Updated to reflect terminology
enhancements and clarification of the requirements.
|
|
4.3.2 Legal and Other
Requirements |
Provides clarification to the
requirements and divides the requirement into sub paragraphs, allowing
for ease of understanding. |
|
4.3.3 Objectives, Targets and
Programme(s)
|
The addition of Programme(s), is an instinctive addition to the
specification, bringing together the key activities of the system. |
|
4.4.1 Resources, Roles,
Responsibility And Authority |
The title is updated and
includes terminology enhancement for clarification of the
requirements. |
|
4.4.2 Competence, Training
and Awareness |
The title is updated and
includes an emphasis on demonstrating competence and training
documentation. |
|
4.4.3 Communication |
This section includes the addition of "internal"
communication in addition to external communication (similar to OSHAS
18001 Health & Safety Management System or HSMS standard) |
|
4.4.4 Documentation |
The “Environmental Management
System Documentation” has been updated and re-titled to
“Documentation” and includes a clearer intent of the significant
environmental aspects documentation. |
|
4.4.5 Control of Documents |
The title is updated and
includes enhanced clarity to the requirement, allowing for ease of
understanding. |
|
4.5.1 Monitoring and Measurement |
A re-write of the paragraph
for clearer meaning and the addition of calibration. |
|
4.5.2 Evaluation of
Compliance |
The revision adds “Evaluation
of Compliance” as a separate requirement within the Environmental
Management System. The emphasis on compliance requires developing a
documented process that includes evaluating and maintaining the
results of periodic evaluations of compliance with applicable legal
requirements. |
|
4.5.3 Nonconformity,
Corrective Action and Preventive Action |
Provides clarification and
restructures the requirement into sub paragraphs, allowing for ease of
understanding.
|
|
4.5.4 Control of Records |
Updated title, with a
restructure of the paragraph and terminology for ease of understanding
with an emphasis on control of conformity records. |
|
4.5.5 Internal Audit |
Updated title and an emphasis
on independent auditors. |
|
4.6 Management
Review |
Management Review process is
updated to include the identification of inputs and outputs. The
addition of identifying inputs and outputs aligns ISO14001:2004 to ISO
9000:2000, moreover, the revision clarifies the description of
the information that needs to be collected and reviewed by top
management. |
The
ISO14001:2004 revision includes clarifications that range from simple
terminology changes, to a complete rewrite of paragraphs, to the addition
of new requirements. The clarifications and terminology changes enhance
the understanding of the requirements. Overall, the updates
add clarity to the environmental management system requirements.
Capaccio Environmental Engineering, Inc. provides ISO14001 System Facilitation,
Gap Analysis, Internal and Pre-Certification Audits, On-Site Training, and
Computer-Based Interactive Training. In addition, CAPACCIO can
assist your company with Systems Management integration into day to day
operations. If you are interested in learning more about the
IS014001:2004 revision, please contact
Paula Esty at 508-970-0033 ext. 128.
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